the stories

2026.08.27-30 VUELTA ESPAÑA

This year I was lucky enough to follow the Vuelta España, one of the three Grand Tours in professional road cycling, for four days. The atmosphere was incredible, with fans lining the roads and the peloton flying by in a blur of color and speed.

I managed to catch some of the most exciting stages, including a mountain finish and a thrilling sprint stage. I even got to see some of the top riders up close during the team presentations. It was an unforgettable experience for any cycling enthusiast. It was surpring and refreshing to see how polite and well behaved the spanish fans are. They kept their distance from the riders and respected their privacy. And to my surprise it seemed i was the only collector with pictures to sign. Children and adults came with notebooks or pieces of paper. Sometimes riders are pleasently surprised when i show them myself made cards. In the past i have even send riders my cards in pdf via email for them to use as promocards themselves.

The fourth day i spent with my friend Michel, and therefor didn't do much autograph collecting.

Below are some of the photos I took at the various stages.

Day 1 was for Stage 6 on August 27th - Alcossebre - Castelló

A 5km hike to the starting line

A 1km long line of teambusses

with former rider and now sports director @ Bahrain Victorious: Franco Pellizotto

with former rider and now sports director @ Bahrain Victorious: Xavier Florencio

with Sir Dave Brailsford - CEO of Netcompany Ineos

with Xabier Zandio -former rider and now sports director @ Netcompany Ineos

Day 2 was for Stage 7 on August 28th - Vall d'Alba - Aramón Valdelinares

La vall d'Alba

The crowd is building

Lots of Policia National & Guardia Civil

Not much space for busses and riders

TV Interview area

with David Gonzalez (Pinnarello)

with Juan manuel Garate - former rider and sportsdirector for EF Easypost

with Niki Terpstra - former rider and sports director for Soudal Quick Step

Day 3 was for Stage 8 on August 29th - Puçol - Xeraco

The startline in Pucol

Eight busses all close together. Perfect...

^{Showing off some of today sigs}

City ordanance. Lots of traffic control.

with Rafael valls - former rider and sports director at Jayco Alula

Teambusses are rolling in

Waiting for the neutralized start

Lorenzo Fortunato signing his cards

Ivan Cobo with his parents

Are they here for me...??

And again....a long long road with busses in Xeraco.

Day 4 was for Stage 9 on August 30th - Villajoyosa - Alto de Aitana.Costa Blanca.

This day i was joined by my friend Michel van Loon who is a fellow cycling enthousiast. We were going to make it a fan-experience day and not a collecting day. From our homes, we had to take a two hour drive to the city of the start Villajoiosa, which is past Benidorm. Typical coastal village with beautiful views. We went down to the presentation area, which was next to the beach and we took some pictures with riders, watched the presentation and a very windy and dusty helicopter take-off. After the start we did lunch and headed to the last climb of the day which was a first category climb to Alto de Aitana. We knew we wouldn't be able to get to the finishline so we deceided to park my car in a curve and waited or the riders. More and more people joined us and after a lot of motorpolice and sponsorcards had passed we saw the two leaders come by. The peloton behind them was already scattered and between the leadeers an the last riders to pass us must have been at least 20 minutes. And before you know it: it's over and everybody clears the mountain. It was a fun day and i'm sure we'll do this again.